By Richard Pagliaro | @Tennis_Now | Wednesday, July 5, 2023
Tennis' pursuit of Saudi dollars doesn't make sense for Daria Kasatkina.
Asked her reaction to reports both the ATP and WTA are finalizing negotiations for Saudi Arabia to host pro events, Kasatkina said money talks, but she doesn't agree with the message tennis will be sending taking Saudi dollars given the Kingdom's record on human rights violations.
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Kasatkina, who came out as gay last July, suggested Saudi Arabia's record on women's rights and LGBT rights makes it a "tough condition" for tennis, particularly women's tennis, to accept the nation's financial backing.
Kasatkina joins Hall of Famers John McEnroe and Chrissie Evert, who both opposed Saudi Arabia buying a stake in tennis in an ESPN Zoom call with the media last week. Evert called it "sports washing."
Same sex activity for both men and women is illegal in Saudi Arabia.
"Many issues concerning this country. Honestly, tough to talk about," Kasatkina said after her 6-0, 6-2 Wimbledon opening-round win over Jodi Burrage on Centre Court. "It's easier for the men because they feel pretty good there, let's say. We don't feel the same way.
"So it's going to be, let's say, money talks in our world right now. For me, I don't think that everything is about the money. Unfortunately not everything is dependent just on us, and particularly me, for example. So it's in the hands of the bigger people, unfortunately."
The PGA Tour recently announced its plan to merge with Saudi-sponsored LIV Golf. It's the latest sports venture the Public Investment Fund, the Saudi sovereign wealth fund, has tapped in moves critics call "sport washing"—an attempt to obscure Saudi Arabia's human rights violations and connection to the 9/11 terrorist attacks with high profile sporting investments.
Human Dignity Trust, an organization that "uses the law to defend the rights of LGBT people globally," has condemned Saudi Arabia for "criminalizing same-sex sexual activity between men and between women."
"Due to the opacity of Saudi Arabia law enforcement, it is not possible to provide accurate estimates of the number of arrests, prosecutions, and executions [of gay people]," Human Dignity Trust said in a statement. "There have been consistent reports of discrimination and violence being committed against LGBT people in recent years, including murder, assault, harassment, and the denial of basic rights and services."
Several current and former pros, including Billie Jean King, Nick Kyrgios, Obs Jabeur and Jessica Pegula have expressed positive support of tennis potential partnering with Saudi Arabia.
Supporters cite the massive financial investment Saudi Arabia has made in other sports, including its LIV Golf recently merging with the PGA Tour, and the prospect of women's tennis achieving equal pay across the board with an infusion of Saudi cash.
Wimbledon finalist Jabeur said yesterday if the financing is right, she would support Saudi investment in women's tennis "100 percent."
“I think is a completely different situation than golf,” Jabeur said. "If it benefits for the player, I'm 100 percent there."
The Tunisian trailblazer said she believes the Saudis are "doing great giving women more rights" and called the potential partnership a "now or never" moment for tennis
"I hope in Saudi they will not just invest with ATP, I hope with WTA,” Jabeur said. “I believe in Saudi they're doing great giving women more rights. It's time to change things.
"Believe it or not, we have the best two womens in Arabic world right now playing in tennis. It's now or never. I hope they really invest in WTA.”
Hall of Famer King says she believes in "engagement" and dialogue leading to a greater understanding among cultures and cites Saudi financing as fuel to help grow the game globally.
Amid reporting the Saudis are bidding to host the ATP's NextGen Finals, Kyrgios tweeted "sign me up" along with 10 emojis of money bags.
"Finally. they see the value," Kyrgios tweeted. "We are going to get paid what we deserve to be get paid. Sign me up."
Negotiations between the Saudis and the ATP emerged after the Saudi-backed LIV golf tour and the PGA announced a merger earlier this month. Following the merger announcement, The New York Times reported tennis will be the next sport the Saudis target.
Kasatkina says money talks, but she isn't buying the support of Saudi investment in tennis saying "money, for me is not the No. 1 priority in this case."
"So as I said, unfortunately now in the world money talks and take very big part," Kasatkina said. "Also, as Nick Kyrgios said, he would be so happy to go there just for a big check.
"For me, money is not No. 1, No. 1 priority in this case, for sure."
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